February 27th 2022

Jaxon slapped at my twitching hands. "Will you stop fidgeting, you're going to ruin the suit."

"I can't help it," I snapped back.

"Relax Sam, you haven't seen Evie in what, two months? It's not like your feelings for each other will have changed." Pointed out Tori.

"You talk at least three times a day," Jaxon agreed.

I sighed, looking at myself in the mirror.

My usually curly hair was tamed and combed back. Gone were my tatty jeans and t-shirt and in its place was a crisp black suit with a sleek blue tie. It was one of the more un-Sam like looks I'd ever seen myself wear.

"I've just missed her."

Jaxon rolled his eyes. "Of course you have. We all have. But she's been on her book tour and you've been kept busy at the orchestra."

"But she's staying with us for a few months after tonight, right?" Tori questioned.

I nodded.

"So relax and enjoy tonight. It's not every day you get to go to the Oscars." Jaxon swooned with excitement.

"We probably won't win."

Tori threw a pillow at me, which I batted away.

"Don't be so bloody pessimistic, Sam."

Jaxon glared at him, standing in front of me like a bodyguard. "Do not mess with my masterpiece." He turned to fuss with my already perfect hair.

"Boys!" Hazel shouted up.

"Show time." Tori chuckled as I wiped my sweaty palms on my trousers.

"I hope Evie was less trouble for Hazel than you were for me," Jaxon grumbled under his breath, but I declined to comment.

Evie had flown in earlier, and whilst I had hoped to spend the day with her, Hazel and Jaxon had had other ideas. Whilst Jaxon had focused on wrangling my hair into his version of acceptable, Hazal and Evie had been out all day getting ready.

As we descended the stairs, I could see Hazel beaming at something as she held her daughter Alona.

My head turned, and I stopped, Tori bumping into me from behind. I could hear him asking me a question, but I only had eyes for one person.

Evie was swishing her dress back and fore in the full-length mirror, making Alona laugh and reach out for her.

"Absolutely not little Miss. Your grubby hands are not getting anywhere near that dress." Hazel reprimanded her daughter with a smile whilst Alona grinned back at her toothily.

"So what do you think?" Evie asked me, her head lifting to look at me before darting away.

My mouth ran dry as I took all of her in. The dress was long and peach coloured. It flowed down her body like a river and was covered in large tulle flowers that shimmered in soft pinks. Her midriff was bare showing her long scars, something I knew would have been hard for her to do.

"It's too much, isn't it? I wasn't sure-"

I silenced her babbling with a long kiss. My hands trailed up her exposed arms, and I crushed her to the front of me.

I pulled back and placed a kiss on her forehead. "You look beautiful."

"Alright back away." Hazel ushered me back a foot whilst Evie blushed. "You'll ruin her look if you keep kissing her like that."

"Yeah that's what the after party is for." Jaxon winked at us.

"I wish you guys could come," Evie said.

"Yeah, it doesn't seem right without you guys," I admitted.

"We'll be cheering you on from here." Tori came to stand by Hazel, taking a squirming Alona and placing her against his hip.

"Exactly, so stop being downers. We're good." Jaxon wrapped a hand around Tye's waist and squeezed him.

A car horn sounded from outside and Tori peaked out the window. "Look lively, your ride is here."

It was all a blur as we stepped outside and into the limo. We waved at them as we drove away, Evie's hand in mine.

"You ready for this?" She turned to look at me, fiddling with the high neckline on her dress.

"I'm a little nervous," I admitted.

"Me too," she whispered.

I hugged her tightly as the car zoomed towards the Dolby Theatre.

From the blacked-out windows we could see the people gathered and the cameras flashing.

I gripped her hand. "Now or never?"

She titled her head and ran a hand through my hair before I could stop her, releasing my curls.

Her smile was breathtaking. "Now you look like my Sam."

"Oh now, you're going to get it. Do you know how long it took Jaxon to do this." I grinned.

She giggled and stepped out of the car; I chased after her. I didn't care about the cameras or the journalists calling our names; I leaned down and kissed her hard.

"I love you, my cranky writer."

"I love you, my hopeless musician."

And with that we took to the red carpet, not caring if we won anything, because we already had everything that we needed.